{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T19:15:16Z","timestamp":1788894916753,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,1]],"date-time":"2022-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1640995200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the behavior of self-medication (SM). Given the massive release of misleading information during the pandemic, some pharmacies recommend drugs such as ivermectin, azithromycin, and hydroxychloroquine that are not useful for preventing or treating COVID-19 and could expose patients to unnecessary adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug-drug interactions (DDIs), disease masking, and antibiotic resistance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Rationale:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>SM with drugs advertised for COVID-19 can have consequences, and people should be aware of approved uses, potential contraindications, and ADRs. Thus, the aim of this study was to know the drug therapies including natural products and homeopathic drugs offered by Colombian pharmaceutical establishments for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as the information provided on the safe use of the product.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>An observational, cross-sectional mystery shopping study was carried out to determine the pharmaceutical alternatives for the management of COVID-19 offered by pharmaceutical establishments (drugstores, pharmacies, homeopathic pharmacies, and nutritional supplements stores) in Colombia, and information related to the safe use of the product. The study included 482 pharmaceutical establishments from 16 Colombian departments. Data collection was done through telephone calls to each of the establishments following an interview protocol pretending to be a patient who presents symptoms related to COVID-19.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>About 57.3% (276) of the establishments recommended a product for the treatment of COVID-19 infection, 66.6% (321) asked whether the caller had COVID-19 symptoms and what they are, and 44.2% (213) suggested taking a COVID-19 test. Of 59 drugs suggested by pharmacies, the most recommended were azithromycin, ivermectin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and ASA (aspirin). From the establishments that recommended a product, dosage was indicated in 85.5% (236) of the pharmaceutical establishments and 14.5% (40) of the establishments reported the most common adverse effects of this substance. About 9.4% (26) of the establishments reported possible interactions of the recommended drugs and substances with food, beverages, or supplements.Conclusion: Pharmaceutical establishments in Colombia seem to have significantly contributed to self-medication for COVID-19 in Colombia during the pandemic. This behavior is inappropriate, since the mild forms of the disease do not have a specific treatment.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Plain Language Summary<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Self-medication induced by pharmaceutical establishments in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the behavior of self-medication (SM). Given the massive release of misleading information during the pandemic, some pharmacies recommend drugs such as ivermectin, azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine among others, which are not useful for preventing or treating COVID-19 and could expose patients to unnecessary side effects and interactions with other medications. People should be aware of the approved and non-approved uses, and potential side effects of these drugs. Rationale: The aim of this study was to know the drugs, including natural products and homeopathic drugs, offered by Colombian pharmaceutical establishments for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as the information provided on the safe use of the product. Methods: The study was done using the mystery shopping method, collecting data through telephone calls to each of the establishments by a trained individual pretending to be a patient with COVID-19 symptoms. The study included 482 pharmaceutical establishments from 16 Colombian departments. Results: Of 59 drugs suggested by pharmacies, the most recommended were azithromycin, ivermectin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. The recommended dose was indicated in 85.5% (236) of the pharmaceutical establishments, and 14.5% (40) of them reported the most common adverse effects of the recommended product. About 9.4% (26) of the establishments reported possible interactions of the recommended drugs and substances with food, beverages, or supplements. Conclusion: The majority of the pharmaceutical establishments included in the study promoted inadequate self-medication for COVID-19 in Colombia during the pandemic.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/20420986221101964","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,25]],"date-time":"2022-05-25T02:40:56Z","timestamp":1653446456000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Prescription for COVID-19 by non-medical professionals during the pandemic in Colombia: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Maria Jose","family":"Nino-Orrego","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics (CIGGUR), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniela","family":"Baracaldo-Santamar\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pharmacology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Claudia","family":"Patricia Ortiz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Corporaci\u00f3n Universitaria Minuto de Dios-UNIMINUTO, Programa de Administraci\u00f3n en Salud Ocupacional, Grupo de Investigaci\u00f3n en Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, Neiva, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Heyde Patricia","family":"Zuluaga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Colombian Association of Pharmacovigilance, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sthefany Alejandra","family":"Cruz-Becerra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Colombian Association of Pharmacovigilance, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Franklin","family":"Soler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andr\u00e9s M.","family":"P\u00e9rez-Acosta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel Ricardo","family":"Delgado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Grupo de Investigaci\u00f3n en Din\u00e1micas Sociales, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Campus Neiva, Neiva, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7305-8727","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos-Alberto","family":"Calderon-Ospina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics (CIGGUR), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, 111221 Bogot\u00e1, Colombia. Pharmacology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"},{"name":"Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogot\u00e1, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-20420986221101964","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it, 2020, https:\/\/www.who.Int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/technical-guidance\/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it (accessed 16 November 2021)."},{"key":"bibr2-20420986221101964","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Archived: WHO timeline \u2013 COVID-19, 2020, https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/27-04-2020-who-timeline\u2014covid-19"},{"key":"bibr3-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Eflein J. Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic \u2013 Statistics & Facts. Statista, 2021, https:\/\/www.statista.com\/topics\/5994\/the-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak\/"},{"key":"bibr4-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2213-2600(21)00286-1"},{"key":"bibr5-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Eflein J. COVID-19 vaccine doses by country. Statista, 2021, https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1194934\/number-of-covid-vaccine-doses-administered-by-county-worldwide\/"},{"key":"bibr6-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2021.111376"},{"key":"bibr7-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pharma.2021.02.003"},{"key":"bibr8-20420986221101964","unstructured":"World Health Organization. The role of the pharmacist in self-care and self-medication. Report of the fouth WHO consultative group on the role of the pharmacist, 1998, http:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/65860\/WHO_DAP_98.13.pdf?sequence=1"},{"key":"bibr9-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468-2667(20)30095-5"},{"key":"bibr10-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.therap.2020.06.006"},{"key":"bibr11-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Observatorio del Comportamiento de Automedicaci\u00f3n Universidad del Rosario, https:\/\/www.urosario.edu.co\/Observatorio-del-Comportamiento-de-Automedicacion\/Inicio\/ (accessed 28 December 2021)."},{"key":"bibr12-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Ministerio de Salud y Protecci\u00f3n Social. PLAN NACIONAL DE RESPUESTA A LA RESISTENCIA A LOS ANTIMICROBIANOS, 2018. https:\/\/www.minsalud.gov.co\/sites\/rid\/Lists\/BibliotecaDigital\/RIDE\/VS\/MET\/plan-respuesta-resistencia-antimicrobianos.pdf"},{"key":"bibr13-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Pan American Health Organization. Colombia\u2019s experience with control of antimicrobial medicines sales \u2013 PAHO\/WHO. Pan American Health Organization, 2020, https:\/\/www.paho.org\/en\/health-systems-and-services\/colombias-experience-control-antimicrobial-medicines-sales"},{"key":"bibr14-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2021.659577"},{"key":"bibr15-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijantimicag.2020.106053"},{"key":"bibr16-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2020.588654"},{"key":"bibr17-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Metlay JP, Waterer GW, Long AC, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia, 2017, http:\/\/www.atsjournals.org\/doi\/suppl\/10.1164\/rccm.201908-1581ST (accessed 26 November 2021)."},{"key":"bibr18-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD015017.pub2"},{"key":"bibr19-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Ministerio de Salud y Protecci\u00f3n Social. LISTADO DE MEDICAMENTOS EN VENTA LIBRE. Datos Abiertos Colombia, 2021, https:\/\/www.datos.gov.co\/Salud-y-Protecci-n-Social\/LISTADO-DE-MEDICAMENTOS-EN-VENTA-LIBRE\/xzwx-qpja (accessed 26 November 2021)."},{"key":"bibr20-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.17-0042"},{"key":"bibr21-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjid.2021.101603"},{"key":"bibr22-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11239-021-02436-0"},{"key":"bibr23-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjcard.2020.12.073"},{"key":"bibr24-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1358863X211012754"},{"key":"bibr25-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0255950"},{"key":"bibr26-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00277-020-04019-0"},{"key":"bibr27-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0259317"},{"key":"bibr28-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2021.606801"},{"key":"bibr29-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182111711"},{"key":"bibr30-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22158090"},{"key":"bibr31-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1003501"},{"key":"bibr32-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hrthm.2020.05.008"},{"key":"bibr33-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0961203314561667"},{"key":"bibr34-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/2279-042X.176542"},{"key":"bibr35-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2018.00550"},{"key":"bibr36-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nu9111211"},{"key":"bibr37-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1079\/PAVSNNR20083098"},{"key":"bibr38-20420986221101964","first-page":"2","volume":"4","author":"Haryanto B","year":"2015","journal-title":"Rev Art Open Access"},{"key":"bibr39-20420986221101964","unstructured":"National Institutes of Health. COVID-19 treatment guidelines panel, https:\/\/www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov\/ (accessed 26 November 2021)."},{"key":"bibr40-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13063-021-05795-4"},{"key":"bibr41-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2021.0369"},{"key":"bibr42-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctcp.2021.101482"},{"key":"bibr43-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1161\/01.CIR.102.23.2907"},{"key":"bibr44-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Felskamp A. Fatal poisoning caused by aconite monk\u2019s hood (Aconitum napellus), https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/1896051\/ (accessed 26 November 2021)."},{"key":"bibr45-20420986221101964","unstructured":"Gaibazzi N, Gelmini GP, Montresor G. [Long QRS tachycardia secondary to Aconitum napellus alkaloid ingestion], https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12407844\/ (accessed 26 November 2021)."},{"key":"bibr46-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.47648\/jmsr.2014.v2302.03"},{"key":"bibr47-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-57011\/v1"},{"key":"bibr48-20420986221101964","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.18203\/2319-2003.ijbcp20203522"}],"container-title":["Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/20420986221101964","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/20420986221101964","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/20420986221101964","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T23:40:00Z","timestamp":1777592400000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/20420986221101964"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,1]]},"references-count":48,"alternative-id":["10.1177\/20420986221101964"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/20420986221101964","relation":{},"ISSN":["2042-0986","2042-0994"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2042-0986","type":"print"},{"value":"2042-0994","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,1]]},"article-number":"20420986221101964"}}